If you want to sell a home without an agent, using a for sale by owner (FSBO) sign is one of the easiest parts to get right. A basic FSBO sign costs $12 to $25 at Home Depot or Lowe's. At minimum, put three things on it: "For Sale By Owner," your phone number, and "By Appointment Only."
FSBO sellers often get nervous about using signage for two reasons:
- They don't want the house to look like an amateurish FSBO sale because of an unattractive sign.
- They don't want their phone flooded with agents and people who can't qualify.
Both issues happen, but thankfully, they're easy to prevent. You'll find all the answers below, along with a free template and where to buy.
Keep your expectations in check, though: Only 4% of buyers first found the home they bought through a yard sign or open house sign, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).[1] The sign's job is to send neighbors and drivers to your online listing, and that's where buyers make up their minds.
What to put on a FSBO sign
Your sign might have only a few seconds to work on a driver traveling past your home. Put four things on it and nothing else.
Must-haves:
- "For Sale By Owner" as the largest text on the sign.
- A phone number. Use a free Google Voice number if you don't want your cell on a public sign.
- "By Appointment Only." This keeps people from knocking on your door at random times.
- If possible, a QR code that links to your online listing, with photos, price, and details.
Worth adding if you have room:
- The headline features, such as "4 BR / 2 BA" or "In-ground pool."
- A web address, if your listing has a short one.
- A flyer box or brochure tube with a one-page fact sheet and your asking price.
Leave off: your price (since it may change), long feature lists, and your email address (nobody can read an email address from a moving car).
FSBO sign riders to add later
Riders are small signs that hang above or below the main sign. They tell repeat passersby that something changed. Useful riders for FSBO sellers include:
- Open House time and date (Ex: Sat. 1-3 p.m.)
- Price Reduced
- By Appointment Only
- Buyer Agents Welcome
- Under Contract
"Buyer Agents Welcome" is worth the extra money. A lot of agents assume FSBO sellers won't work with them, and this tells them otherwise (more on that below).
Free for sale by owner sign template
We made a simple red-and-white FSBO sign template you can download for free. Upload the PDF to any of the custom sign sites below, add your phone number in their editor, and order it.
The template is sized for an 18 x 24 inch sign, which fits the standard frames sold at Home Depot and Lowe's.
» DOWNLOAD: Free For Sale by Owner Sign Template (PDF)
Where to buy FSBO signs
You can buy a generic FSBO sign at Home Depot, Lowe's, or Walmart for under $25, or order a custom one online. Here's what each option costs.
| Where | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | Everbilt 18 x 24 in. plastic sign with metal frame | $23.97 |
| Lowe's | Hillman 18 x 24 in. plastic sign (sign only) | $11.98 |
| Lowe's | Hillman 18 x 24 in. sign with frame | $24.98 |
| Walmart | Multi-sign kits with stakes, including directional arrows | $22 to $65 |
Prices checked September 2026 and may vary by store.
Buy in-store if you want a sign today. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart all stock FSBO signs, so that's the fastest answer to "for sale by owner signs near me." The downside is you'll write your number on with a marker, and it'll probably look homemade.
Order custom if you're in a competitive or higher-priced neighborhood. A printed number and a QR code make a seller look serious. Most custom sign sites ship in a few business days.
Best custom FSBO sign websites
Best FSBO yard sign size, color, and material
Size. An 18 x 24 inch sign is the standard, and it's what the store frames fit. If you're on a road with 40+ mph traffic, go with a large 24 x 36 inch sign. Most custom sites print both.
Color. Red and white is the default for a reason. It's the highest-contrast combination from the street, and people already read it as "for sale."
Material. Corrugated plastic is cheap and light. It can fade or warp after a few months outside, which is fine for most FSBO sales. Aluminum costs more but survives weather. It's worth it if you expect a long listing or you're in an upscale area.
What should hold up your sign?
| Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-stakes | Tight budgets | Cheap, easy to install | Flimsy, sits low, no riders |
| Sign frames | Most FSBO sellers | Sturdy, looks professional, holds riders | Must match sign size |
| Sign posts | Upscale neighborhoods | Tallest and most visible | Most expensive, need installing |
H-stakes are thin wire frames that slide into the grooves of a plastic sign. Skip them. They bend in the first strong wind and hold the sign so low that a parked car can block it.
Sign frames wrap around the sign and stake into the lawn. They don't twist in the wind, and many have hooks for riders. A sign frame is the best pick for most sellers. The Home Depot and Lowe's frame kits above already include one.
Sign posts hang the sign from an arm, usually PVC or wood. They cost the most. But in a neighborhood where every other house has an agent's post out front, that's the look you're matching.
Do for sale by owner signs actually work?
They work in the right location. That same NAR report we referenced earlier found that 61% of sellers had their home marketed with a yard sign.[1]
✅ When a sign can help
- You're on a busy street or a corner lot
- Your neighborhood gets a lot of walkers or drive-through traffic
- Neighbors might know someone who wants to move in
- You're holding an open house
🚫 When it might not be necessary
- You're in a gated community, a rural area, or on a dead-end street
- You already have a buyer lined up
- You're listed on the MLS through a flat-fee broker (see below)
Pair the sign with an online listing. Your options include FSBO websites, Zillow, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Nextdoor.
» MORE: How to Sell Your House For Sale by Owner
Common problems with FSBO signs (and how to handle them)
Calls from agents wanting to sell your home
Expect calls from listing agents within a day or two. Agents see a FSBO sign as a warm lead. Set up a voicemail that filters them out, something like:
"You've reached [name] about the house at [address]. Showings are by appointment only. Leave your name, number, and whether you're pre-approved, and I'll call you back today. Agents with a buyer are welcome. I'm not looking to list with an agent right now."
Buyer's agents skipping your house
Some buyer's agents steer clients away from FSBO homes because they're not sure they'll get paid. Since August 17, 2024, offers of buyer-agent compensation can't appear in the MLS. Sellers can still offer to pay a buyer's agent directly, and everything is negotiable.[2]
If you're open to it, a "Buyer Agents Welcome" rider tells those agents you'll talk. You don't have to name a number on the sign.
» READ: Do Sellers Pay Buyer's Agent Commission?
Buyers who can't get a loan
A sign brings in people who aren't pre-approved. Before you schedule a showing, ask: "Are you pre-approved, and with which lender?" If the answer is no, send them the listing link and ask them to call back once they have a letter.
People knocking on your door
"By Appointment Only" on the sign cuts most of this down. If someone shows up anyway, take their number and offer a time the next day. That gives you time to clean up the kitchen and ask whether they're pre-approved before they walk in.
Can you use a FSBO sign with a flat-fee MLS listing?
Usually not. A flat-fee MLS listing means a licensed broker is technically your listing broker. Many MLS rules allow only the listing brokerage's sign on the property.[3] Some state license laws also require the broker's name on every ad, including yard signs. Ohio is one example.[4]
Ask your flat-fee company before you order anything. Most will give you a branded sign or sell you one.
Bottom line
If your house is on a street with traffic, buy an 18 x 24 inch sign with a frame for about $24. Put four things on it: "For Sale By Owner," a phone number, "By Appointment Only," and a QR code to your listing. If you want it to look sharper, upload our free template to a custom sign site.
If you're on a quiet street or listed on the MLS, skip the FSBO sign and put the money into photos and online exposure. That's where most buyers start looking.
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